The Current Landscape of Atlassian
Atlassian has been evolving its product deployment strategies over the past few years, moving away from traditional on-premises solutions towards more flexible cloud-based platforms. The Data Center to Cloud transition impacts how businesses manage their software development and project management tools.
Server and Data Center: Traditional Enterprise Deployment
Atlassian’s on-premises solutions cater to organizations seeking more control over their infrastructure:
- Server: A single-instance solution hosted on an organization’s own hardware
- Data Center: An advanced version designed for larger enterprises, allowing deployment across multiple servers
- Officially ending support for Server products on February 15, 2024
- Data Center continues to support enterprise customers with complex infrastructure needs
Cloud: The Modern Approach
A fully managed solution by Atlassian that offers:
- Automatic updates and security patches
- Scalability and accessibility
- Lower initial infrastructure costs
- Continuous feature improvements
The strategic shift reflects broader industry trends towards cloud-based solutions, offering businesses more flexibility and reduced maintenance overhead.
Benefits of Migrating to Cloud
Cloud migration is a strategic transformation that can significantly enhance organizational productivity and efficiency. Atlassian’s cloud solutions offer compelling advantages for modern businesses.
Performance and Scalability
Cloud platforms provide unprecedented flexibility for growing businesses. Unlike traditional on-premises solutions, cloud infrastructure allows instant resource scaling, supporting your team’s evolving requirements without significant hardware investments.
Enhanced Collaboration and Accessibility
Modern work environments demand tools that support distributed teams. Cloud platforms break down geographical barriers, enabling real-time collaboration from anywhere in the world.
Continuous Innovation and Updates
Atlassian’s cloud solutions ensure you’re always working with the latest features and security improvements. Automatic updates eliminate manual system maintenance, reducing IT overhead and providing your team with cutting-edge tools. You continuously benefit from technological advancements without additional configuration efforts.
Advanced Security and Compliance
Cloud platforms offer robust security measures that often exceed internal capabilities. With dedicated security teams, regular compliance certifications, and advanced threat protection, cloud solutions provide a secure environment for sensitive project data. Automated backups, encryption, and comprehensive access controls ensure data protection.
Cost Optimization
Migrating to the cloud transforms capital expenditures into predictable operational costs. Organizations can eliminate expenses related to hardware maintenance, server infrastructure, and manual updates. The cloud model offers transparent pricing and the ability to adjust resources based on actual usage.
These benefits demonstrate why cloud migration is a strategic approach to modern project management.
DevSamurai’s First Step to Cloud Migration
DevSamurai has been a long-standing partner in the Atlassian ecosystem, providing innovative solutions that enhance project management capabilities. With ProductGo, we’re taking a significant leap forward in supporting seamless cloud migration for our customers.
ProductGo: Bridging On-Premises and Cloud Environments
As one of the first apps on the Atlassian Marketplace to offer comprehensive Jira Cloud Migration Assistant (JCMA) support, ProductGo demonstrates our commitment to helping teams transition smoothly. We understand that migration can be complex, which is why we’ve developed a detailed approach to ensure minimal disruption to your workflow.
What Will Be Migrated
Our migration support covers critical project management components:
- Story Mapping Board includes the following elements: Goals, Steps, Tasks, Issues, Releases, Comments, and Quick Filters.
- Roadmap includes Milestones, Release dates, and Timelines for Goals, Steps, and Tasks.
- Portfolio board comprises Goals, Swimlanes, Stories, Quick filters, and Board settings.
- Persona includes a list of project-specific and global personas.
- Project and user configurations.
For more information about ProductGo’s migration data, please access here: Server to Cloud Migration Using JCMA.
Simplifying Cloud Migration: Key Steps
Migrating from Jira Data Center to Cloud involves a structured process. Here’s a detailed walkthrough using the Jira Cloud Migration Assistant (JCMA):
Pre-Migration Preparation
Before beginning your migration, prepare your environment by ensuring you have the latest version of ProductGo installed on your Cloud site. Take time to audit your existing apps and assess their compatibility with the cloud platform.
Migration Steps
Step 1: Connect to Cloud
Start by connecting your cloud instance. If you don’t have an existing Cloud site, you can quickly set up a trial.
This step links your current infrastructure with the new cloud environment, establishing the foundation for migration.
Step 2: Choose Migration Scope
Carefully choose what you want to migrate. This includes deciding on Advanced Roadmaps plans, selecting specific or all projects, choosing dashboards and boards, and determining which users and groups will transfer.
The goal is to create a precise migration strategy tailored to your organization’s needs.
Step 3: Pre-Migration Checks
The Cloud Migration Assistant conducts comprehensive checks across multiple domains. It examines system configurations, validates user groups, prepares data for transfer, and assesses app compatibility.
This crucial step identifies potential issues before they can disrupt your migration.
Step 4: Review Migration Details
Meticulously review all migration settings and configurations. The assistant will highlight any errors or warnings that require attention.
You have the flexibility to save your migration plan for later or proceed immediately with the transfer.
Step 5: Manage and Monitor
Once initiated, track your migration through the dedicated dashboard. The system provides real-time updates on migration status, allowing you to monitor progress and ensure a successful transfer.
Important Considerations
A few key guidelines will help ensure a smooth migration:
- Avoid making any data changes during the migration process
- Verify that time zone settings are consistent across both instances
- Re-index your Jira server before migration to optimize performance
- Always perform an initial test in a staging environment
By following these structured steps and leveraging the Jira Cloud Migration Assistant, you can confidently transition your ProductGo environment to the cloud with minimal disruption.
Common Questions about Migration
Question 1: How does ProductGo handle data migration?
With Atlassian’s Jira Cloud Migration Assistant (JCMA), ProductGo ensures that all critical data – portfolio boards, user story maps, personas, and project configurations – are successfully transferred to the Atlassian Cloud. Our integration automatically maps and validates your data to maintain functionality and ensure that you can proceed with your app usage immediately.
Question 2: What steps should I take before migrating my app data?
Before migrating, we recommend:
- Updating your app to the latest version to ensure compatibility.
- Reviewing your data to identify any unused configurations or items.
- Testing the migration in a staging environment to address potential issues.
- Backing up your data, as a precautionary measure.
Question 3: How long will it take to migrate?
The time required for migration depends on factors like data volume, network speed, the number of groups and issues, and customizations. The Jira Cloud Migration Assistant (JCMA) provides an estimated speed and time before starting the migration, helping you plan effectively.
- Small Teams (10–50 users): Most migrations can be completed over a weekend, with the total process, including preparation and validation.
- Enterprise Teams (500+ users): For larger organizations, planning and testing are critical to ensure data integrity. The full migration process, including preparation, execution, and validation, typically takes weeks, allowing for unexpected delays.
Pro Tip: Always conduct a test migration in a staging environment. This helps you accurately gauge the time required and catch any issues before the final migration.
Cloud Migration Assistance
As businesses, you do not have to look further, you can contact us directly for free consultation on the process of migrating from Data Center to Cloud deployment. You can contact our ProductGo team via email atlassian@devsamurai.com or our Support Desk for the migration demo session.
If else, DevSamurai also partners with some of the leading migration teams in Atlassian. You can visit DevSamurai’s Partners here for more services.
Final Words
Migrating from Jira Data Center to Cloud is more than a technical transition—it’s an opportunity to transform how your team works. DevSamurai’s ProductGo provides the tools and support to make this journey smooth and strategic.
The cloud offers a future-proof solution that adapts to your evolving business needs. With enhanced performance, security, and collaboration capabilities, you’re not just changing a platform—you’re upgrading your entire project management approach.
